By City Manager Ray Young
Last spring, we gave you an update on what is happening at The Confluence site, Troutdale's Urban Renewal Area (URA). Since that time, several developments have occurred regarding the public park and trail along the river. Not only are the plans and funds available to start the waterfront park construction, Union Pacific Railroad has approved our 60% design plans that allow us to construct the trail under their bridge over the Sandy River.
This is a critical connection from downtown, behind Depot Park, to the new park and commercial development. We are working hard to finish their approval process in the next few months. We are hopeful that sometime in 2024 we can start construction of the park and trail.
Along with our project, the Port of Portland is moving forward to build their trail that will connect with our Sandy River Trail. Work begins this fall building a paved trail from the I-84 bridge, north along the west side of the river. By 2025 you should be able to hike or bike on a paved trail from downtown Troutdale, north along the west bank of the Sandy River all the way to Chinook Landing and beyond!
A version of this story originally appeared in the September/October 2023 edition of The Troutdale Champion